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Christmas – a secular celebration of the birth of Jesus and the most important Christian holiday

Christmas, which is heralded by the season of Advent, is one of the three main festivals in the Christian calendar along with Easter and Whitsun. It is associated with a whole variety of customs, although Nativity scenes and festively decorated Christmas trees are considered to be secular symbols. The romantic Christmas markets held in many towns, cities and villages across Germany traditionally open their doors at the start of the Advent season. more »

Walpurgis Night – the most fiery of nights throughout the Harz region

A mixture of customs, shamanism, parties and adoration of saints, Walpurgis Night takes place on the night of 30 April every year and combines Celtic and Germanic traditions with Catholic customs. While witches meet for a huge party on Mount Brocken in the Harz National Park , Catholics celebrate the feast day of the abbess St. Walburga, who lends her name to this spooky occasion.

Proud riders and magnificent steeds – one of the largest mounted processions in Europe: Bad Kötzting

The Bad Kötzting Whitsun Ride is one of Europe's largest mounted pilgrimages for men in Europe and originates in a pledge made in 1412. Led by the cross-bearer, almost 1,000 horsemen dressed in traditional costume ride through the Zellertal Valley on Whit Monday, praying as they go. Forming part of a complex set of customs, the Eucharistic procession includes preaching from the Gospel and ends with the 'Whitsun wedding'.

The Easter cavalcade is an ancient religious ritual in the form of a procession. Before the procession, the Easter horse riders attend the Easter Sunday service. They then ride around the outside of their local church and receive a blessing before setting out on horseback to the sound of choral singing to deliver the joyous news of Christ's resurrection. Afterwards, a traditional Easter market takes place in Bautzen.

The world's most famous passion play – the result of a vow made during the plague year of 1633: Oberammergau

A tradition with global fame: this portrayal of Jesus Christ's Passion, death and resurrection has been performed by an extensive cast of lay actors every ten years for almost four centuries. The huge-scale production at the Passion Play Theatre takes six hours and re-enacts the final five days in the life of Jesus. The Passion Plays are one of the most significant religious events in Germany.

The Leonhardi Ride is a religious tradition that can be traced back as far as the 17th century. This ceremonial horseback pilgrimage to the Leonhardi Chapel takes place in early November each year in Bad Tölz and is held in honour of the patron saint of horses and cattle, St. Leonhard of Limoges (6th century). It is the largest of its kind in Bavaria , with numerous riders on horseback, a large crowd of spectators and over 80 decorated carts drawn by teams of four horses.

The custom of carnival, now part of the Christian calendar, has its roots in Pagan traditions. It is celebrated in anticipation of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Nowadays, the colourful spectacle begins on 11 November and reaches its peak on the Monday before Lent, when extravagant processions are held. The frivolity ends on Ash Wednesday at the start of the fasting period.

The dragon-slaying pageant, dating back to 1590, has its origins in the Corpus Christi procession and incorporates the legend of St. George. Every August, Furth plays host to a festival in which the townsfolk transform themselves into 15th-century warriors, knights and peasants. This elaborate production, full of drama and mysticism with epic and thrilling scenes from the Middle Ages, traditionally depicts the slaying of the dragon.